My Way: The Norval Morey Story by Rich Donnell (2013-05-03)

A Biography of Norval K. Morey, founder of Morbark, Inc. Norval "Nub" Morey couldn't read very well, but that didn't stop him from developing one of the most successful forest products equipment companies in the world, Morbark, Inc. And he didn't go far to do it. In fact Morey built the company just a couple of miles from the site of the log cabin where he was born. The people of Winn, Michigan and Isabella County will forever be grateful for Morey's business and labor infusion, as well as for Morey's significant philanthropic contribution. But Morey's impact was felt nationwide, not only because of the innovative wood reduction machinery he patented and introduced to the forestry industry, but also because of his foresight as to the potential of wood biomass as a renewable energy that could drive America toward energy independence. In recent years, wood-to-energy has emerged in the United States and worldwide, but Norval Morey was promoting it 40 years ago. And his biggest propenent was none other than a presidential candidate named Ronald Reagan. That Morey befriended and convinced "The Great Communicator' himself to deliver Morey's wood energy message to the nation is but one example of the tireless devotion Morey maintained for many pursuits during his life. Norval Morey's life was an exciting journey. He worked on his family's farm during the Great Depression, he felled big timber in the forests of the Great Northwest, he experienced hellacious front-line combat for most of a year in Italy during World War II. Then he came back home to rural Winn, where with the aid of many Morey siblings and relatives he began to put down his own, unique, unbending entrepreneurial stamp. There's not a statue of Morey in his hometown, but there probably should be.